Smith on back foot as migrant projections jump 30%

Official projections for annual migration to Britain were raised by 45,000 to 190,000 a year yesterday, threatening to undermine the new "zero tolerance" approach to crime and illegal immigration unveiled by home secretary Jacqui Smith.

The Office of National Statistics published revised figures inflating the old 145,000 a year projection by 30%, saying it had more detailed data from 2004-05 on which the estimates were based.

Conservatives and anti-immigration groups seized on the increase, claiming it ripped apart the government's "complacent assumptions" about the numbers coming into the country. But immigration minister Liam Byrne said all it showed was what "could happen unless we take action now" and claimed the figures took no account of the fall in net migration last year or the decision to close the door on low-skilled migrants from outside the European Union.

As Ms Smith promised the Labour conference that the new Australian-style points-based immigration system would only allow into the country those with the skills that were needed from next March, a new mobile immigration detention facility - in the form of a converted lorry - was unveiled to the public.

"In the next few days we will sign the deal to toughen up the checks we do abroad on passengers travelling to the UK. This will allow us to count people in, count people out, and prevent those we are concerned about from entering in the first place," said the home secretary, adding that a new crackdown on "human traffickers" would be launched next week.

The justice secretary, Jack Straw, underlined the government's approach by spelling out that tougher immigration controls are to be accompanied by a "great public debate on a British statement of values".

Ms Smith confirmed her "zero tolerance" of crime but insisted her definition included alcohol and drug treatment programmes as well as punishments. "Let me be clear, I've zero tolerance of anti-social behaviour, and zero tolerance of its causes," she said. "Causes like alcohol misuse ... and of homes being broken into or bags being snatched to feed a drug habit - and zero tolerance of people not getting drug treatment when they need it."